Pressure-Sensitive Virtual Keyboard Input Method for Flexible Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties with mistyping keys when using virtual keyboards on flexible display laptops, especially with combination keys like ctrl and shift, due to the lack of tactile feedback, leading to inefficient input operations.
Innovation Solution
A touch screen input method that measures pressure during touch operations on a virtual keyboard, determining the corresponding input key and instruction based on the pressure and location, allowing for differentiated input modes (e.g., capitalized vs. un-capitalized) to improve typing accuracy and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a virtual keyboard is used on a flexible display panel, then the device becomes more mobile and integrated, but users experience mistyping errors due to lack of tactile feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements pressure feedback by measuring the force applied to virtual keys and providing visual feedback through different key states (pressed vs. unpressed). This allows users to receive tactile-like feedback through visual cues, improving typing accuracy while maintaining the virtual keyboard's mobility and integration benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of key response from binary (pressed/not pressed) to continuous by measuring pressure levels. This allows for differentiated input modes where different pressure thresholds trigger different functions, reducing mistyping errors while maintaining device integration.
2Device complexity
If combination keys (ctrl, shift) are omitted from the virtual keyboard, then the interface becomes simpler, but input efficiency decreases due to additional keystrokes required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes virtual keys multi-functional by enabling them to respond to different pressure levels. Regular keys can serve both as character inputs and as combination keys (ctrl, shift, alt) depending on the pressure applied, eliminating the need for separate combination key buttons while maintaining input efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the function of combination keys with regular keys by implementing pressure-sensitive differentiation. The same physical key location serves multiple purposes based on pressure threshold, reducing interface complexity while maintaining productivity through consolidated key functionality.
3Measurement precision
If pressure measurement is added to virtual key input, then input accuracy improves through differentiated modes, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical pressure sensing systems with software-based pressure threshold detection on existing touch screens. By using firmware-level pressure measurement and threshold comparison, the system achieves precise input discrimination without adding complex hardware, thus improving measurement precision while minimizing device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances user experience by reducing typing errors and improving input efficiency through the use of pressure-sensitive virtual keys, enabling users to input combination keys without additional keystrokes and maintaining direct interaction with the device.
Implementation Method 1
measuring a pressure of the touch operation
Data Source
AI summary
An input method is provided. The method includes receiving a touch operation in a first region of a touch screen, the first region corresponding to an input region of a virtual input unit; measuring a pressure of the touch operation; determining a first input key corresponding to a location of the touch operation; and determining an instruction corresponding to the touch operation based on the measured pressure and the first input key.